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Discovering African Starlore

By Focus Online Team on May 30, 2024

Mankind has always had a unique fascination with the stars.

More often than not, gazing at the heavens stirs the heart, inspiring feelings of awe and longing and prompting us to question where we fit into the universe’s immeasurable expanse.

For all of modern man’s scientific discoveries, the stars retain a certain mystique. Yes, we now have data to explain their composition and patterns of movement, especially with reference to our own solar system, but stories of the stars hold a unique power over us to this day – just look at the popularity of a divinatory practice like Astrology!

Unlike modern man, the first people of Africa did not refer to characters like Orion or Cassiopeia when talking about the constellations, but had their own unique tellings of the stars.

Let’s explore some concepts of African starlore together!

 

The Girl Who Made The Stars

The /Xam bushmen are among the first peoples of Southern Africa and are fabled orators and storytellers.

They speak of a young maiden from an ancient race who scooped up coals from her home fire’s ashes and threw them heavenward, creating the Milky Way. It is said she created it as a pathway to lead men home after completing their hunt.

Explaining The Stars

Before we understood the stars to be massive entities of swirling, burning gas, people had different theories.

Among the Shona people, a tale persisted that the stars were the gazes of departed souls, whereas among the Tswana there was a belief that they embodied the spirits of individuals unwilling to be born to a life on earth. Alternatively, some Tswana believed that they represented the souls of ancient ancestors, so old that they no longer held any ties with the living. In the Venda tradition, stars were envisioned as suspended orbs, connected to the dome of the world by invisible strings, while other communities thought them to be holes in the night sky.

Orion's Belt

While the three stars of Orion’s Belt are well known to those who take an interest in the night sky, this constellation was first charted by the Ancient Greeks.

In African starlore, the San believed Orion’s belt symbolised three zebras, which a great hunter had taken aim at from a high mountain top. His arrow missed, forming what we today call Orion’s Sword. To honour the zebra’s escape, the gods sent them to live down on earth, abandoning their home in the stars.

The Moon

As the largest and brightest celestial body in our night sky, it’s no surprise that the moon has inspired countless stories across the ages.

Because of its changing form and rotation around the earth, the Kora KhoiKhoi called the moon kham, the returner. Its stages also inspired many interpretations; most referring to the duality of masculine and feminine. When the moon is a crescent, it symbolises masculinity, whereas the full moon symbolises femininity.

The Xhosa people believed that the world ended where the sea met the land. They thought there was a big hole under the sea filled with new moons. This meant that every time a new month started, there was a brand new moon ready to shine.

Stories For The Ages

While most cultures had their own rendition of the way things were and came to be, the /Xam have an extensive number of stories pertaining to starlore.

The indigenous peoples of Southern Africa suffered greatly during the colonial settlement of Africa and for a long time it was feared that their cherished oral histories were lost to the sands of time.

Happily, the Bushman Heritage Museum, located in Nieu-Bethesda in the Eastern Cape, is reviving these tales by nurturing a new generation of storytellers who are keeping the tales of their ancestors, and thereby their culture, alive.

Visit their website to discover more fascinating African starlore and the beautiful art that comes from reimagining these tales.

Stargazing At Tuningi

Winter (June – August) is a dry time of year in the Madikwe Game Reserve, meaning that the skies are clear and therefore perfectly suited to stargazing!

The absence of light pollution in the remote bushveld means that you will be treated to a staggeringly clear view of the Milky Way – perfect for those who love sitting back on the deck with a glass of something in hand and pondering the heavens.

If you’re new to Astronomy, fear not, our guides will be able to point out the brightest constellations in our night sky.

You could also try your luck with apps like SkySafari 7 Pro, Night Sky 11 or NASA app, user-friendly applications for smartphones that add an entirely new dimension to your stargazing experience. Star Walk 2 is well-suited to beginners and will be able to identify most stars and constellations for you using your phone’s camera.

Stay With Us

For an unforgettable journey into nature, book your stay at Tuningi, a luxurious safari lodge in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Browse our website and book your stay online via our seamless booking platform. Alternatively, contact our front desk directly at book@tuningi.co.za and we’d be happy to help with the arrangements.

Sources: www.rmg.co.uk, www.cfah.org.za/resources/starlore

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